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THINK OF THE CHILDREN, GIVE THEM BOOZE! It's always nice when things you believe are backed up by actual evidence, so I was particularly happy to read this morning that there is considerable reason to believe that children who drink with their parents are much less likely to drink irresponsibly (these quotes are from the paper which is not available for free online, see the link above for a summary or here for a WSJ article on the same topic):
If youth received alcohol from a parent or other adult relative, the respondents reported consuming fewer drinks on the last drinking occasion and were less likely to report binge drinking within the previous 2 weeks.Further, youth who reported drinking with their parents on the most recent drinking occasion indicated that they drank fewer drinks (p < .001). Drinking with parents also appears to have a protective effect on general drinking trends. Respondents who were with their parents were about half as likely to indicate that they had drunk alcohol in the past 30 days and about one-third as likely to report that they had drunk five or more drinks in a row in the previous 2 weeks.
There may be some contexts in which parents "teach" responsible drinking behavior within a protected environment, thus sheltering teenagers from risky experimentation and alcohol abuse.
When you think about it this makes sense. Learning limits with alcohol takes time and adults who have experience with it can make sure that things don't get out of hand. We've all seen someone who went out drinking for the first time and ended up way drunker than anyone ever wants to be. Being introduced to alcohol in an environment where moderation is required is a lot better than being introduced to it in a context where binging is encouraged.
Of course, the fact that the law prevents young people from drinking in other situations where moderation is encouraged (restaurants for example) only increases the importance of parents.
The study had some other interesting findings. Black and Latino teens were less likely to binge drink, in part because they attended fewer parties where parents provided the alcohol. Religion also reduced alcohol consumption.
Mainly though, this is yet another example of how our country's uptight approach to drugs and drinking is simplistic and counter-productive.
--Sam Boyd
COMMENTS (12)
A golden opportunity missed:
Titling this post "I learned it by watching you!"
Posted by: Trevor | September 4, 2007 12:05 PM
Black and Latino teens were less likely to binge drink, in part because they attended fewer parties where parents provided the alcohol.
Doesn't that refute your original point?
Posted by: Jinchi | September 4, 2007 12:20 PM
Your comments are completely contradicted by the quote you post.
First, the study says that youth drink less if they are with their parents. This seems obvious. What it doesn't say is that youth who drink with their parents drink less in toto or that they binge drink less. There's no reason to think that from the quote.
Second, youth who are with their parents drink less. Again, this is a no-brainer. You're going to keep a sharper eye on your kids if they are around. Again, this doesn't speak at all to future responsibility.
So the conclusion is that kids drink less if parents are around. You cannot conclude that kids drink less if they begin drinking under parental supervision.
Posted by: Scott P. | September 4, 2007 12:35 PM
There's another reason that's been overlooked (it might be in the paper, since I've only seen selective quotations of it):
If alcohol isn't forbidden at home, there's no real pressing need to get as much of it as you can when you manage to acquire it.
Binge drinking comes in more than one form, but at least one type revolves around "we have an empty house, we've managed to score a bunch of beer and whatever people have swiped from various liquor cabinet's -- let's PARTY!".
Forbidden fruit is always sweeter, and if you feel this current party is your ONLY chance to get beer for the next three months -- you're going to overindulge.
It's anecdotal, but all those I know whose parents were moderate drinkers and allowed their children to partake (we're talking "glass of wine with dinner, two beers during a football game" level of drinkers) produced kids who drank moderate amounts of alcohol and never were tempted to binge.
Posted by: Morat | September 4, 2007 1:27 PM
From the series of anecdotal observations that is my life, I'm certain there are good and bad ways to do this. For example, you shouldn't host a kegger where every teen in town gets all they can drink. I'm guessing the key is to be sober about the drinking, and teach that you can drink without getting blotto.
Posted by: American Citizen | September 4, 2007 1:54 PM
"I'm guessing the key is to be sober about the drinking, and teach that you can drink without getting blotto."
Well that's the thing. Americans have a huge "drink to get drunk" and "go out (and drink and get drunk)" way of orienting themselves. This became exceedingly clear to me in Europe, where nightlife doesn't necessarily entail large numbers of people drinking to excess.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 4, 2007 3:21 PM
In response to several comments, the paper makes a clear distinction between parents providing alcohol to their own kids and parents hosting parties where alcohol is served. The latter clearly encourages bad behaviour while the former seems to be beneficial -- remember that the kids who drank with their parents only binge drink 1/3 as much.
Posted by: Sam Boyd | September 4, 2007 5:14 PM
This became exceedingly clear to me in Europe, where nightlife doesn't necessarily entail large numbers of people drinking to excess.
Must not have made it to England, I assume. In any case, for those of you with an interest in the development and history of American cultural practices regarding alcohol, I'd recommend W.J. Rorabaugh's _The Alcoholic Republic: An American Tradition_.
Posted by: Senescent | September 4, 2007 5:33 PM
"Must not have made it to England, I assume."
No, I was on the continent not England. The point is it was a notably different atmosphere. People were having a great time, they just weren't wasted. Oh, yeah, and the men actually dance. For enjoyment, not just to pick up women.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 4, 2007 7:56 PM
We sent our son, a Bad Boy, to Europe to civilize him and improve his French. He had a very good time and came back with yet another tattoo--a big one.
The guys with whom he hung wanted to know: (1) why do you Americans all have guns? and (2) why do you Americans think it's cool to drink yourselves sick and throw up?
Posted by: LogicGuru | September 5, 2007 12:11 AM
Our toddler has learned that "babies don't drink wine YET." And that's just how she says it. Of course, a few nights ago, when she had been put to bed and wasn't happy about it, she complained to me "Daddy and Grammy in da kitchen drinking wine!" She may be demanding her glass of Pinot sooner than we think.
Posted by: janet | September 5, 2007 12:41 AM
My first beer was at the age of fifteen in Germany. I drank the first one, half of a second one and fell in a ditch on the way home.
I laid there for at least an hour before I could stand up.
Posted by: merlallen | September 5, 2007 8:15 AM